The Children's Hour (1961)

Second viewing; first viewed between 1983 and 1986.

The owners and administrators of a school for girls are accused of lesbianism.

Based on a real event in 1810, this film reportedly follows its real-life source in a faithful manner for its first hour, and this is the best part of the movie. The remainder introduces some fictional elements and, while still having interesting dramatic points, does not fare as well in its analysis of the characters' behavior. The film's point, it seems, is the characterization of the school environment as a torturous one, and the demonstration of how this ends up bouncing back at the torturers.

Rating: 69 (down from 77)